Floor furnace



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FLOOR FURNACE Filed April 25, 1933 5 Sl'xeets--Sheerl l ORNEY @u bm mw prill 30, 1935..

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H, J. SMITH 'ET AL FLOOR FURNACE Filed April 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITEDA STATES PATENT OFFICE noon FURNACE Calif.

Application April 25, 1933, Serial No. 667,782

8 Claims.

This invention relates particularly to floor furnaces of the type in which liquid fuel is used as the heating medium. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings for purposes of explanation, applicants show a type of burner in which one or more annular wicks are used in suitable fuel troughs for starting purposes and in which, when the wicks are lighted, the oil in the troughs begins to vaporize. As this vapor rises between perforated annular shells, air is drawn through the perforations and mixes with the vapor to make a combustible mixture. The burner soon becomes hot enough to gasify the oil in the troughs. The draft created between the shells lifts the flame above the wicks and thereby discontinues their burning.

Although said wicks are used only when starting the burner, it is important to have the same level at all times in order to uniformly heat the burner. These furnaces areA usually located beneath the floor and are suspended therefrom.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is the provision of means for leveling the burner within the furnace, from the top thereof and without any inconvenience to the operator.

I In furnaces of this character the annular shells are supported independently on the fuel troughs and are adapted to be removed therefrom for cleaning purposes. Much difficulty is encountered in replacing such shells in their proper positions, and particularly when the furnace is in an inconvenient location, as it is when under a floor.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to form a unit of the several shells andmake it removable bodily and replaceable at will and in a convenient manner, with guide means for replacement.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for simultaneously adjusting both the burner and the device for admitting fuel thereto, whereby the relative difference in levels remains constant at all times. A gravity control device is provided for admitting fuel to the burner and is in .turn supplied with fuel from an intermediate, float-controlled valve, in the fuel supply line. If the needle valve controlling the flow of fuel into the gravity control device fails to operate to tightly close the inlet, an overflow pipe is provided for directing the fuel into a bucket. When the fuel in the bucket reaches a predetermined level the bucket trips, causing an actuation of certain levers to force the needle into its seat.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for indicating from a convenient place in the top of the furnace when the bucket has been tripped. It is also an object of the invention to provide means easily accessible to the operator for dumping the bucket containing the liquidv fuel 5 and simultaneously setting the gravity-control device for normal operation. Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description of the invention as here illustrated and which we will 10.

now describe in detail. In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a floor furnace embodying our invention, with parts shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on 15 the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, with the cover to the furnace removed;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through feed control mechanism;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the 20 line 4-4 of Fig. 1; y

Figure 5 is a vertical, fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

` Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the line 6-6/ 25 of Fig. 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line '1 1 of Fig. 4; and l Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 3. 30

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Il

certain fuel designates the usual floor grate, set in a suitable opening in the door II. Suspended from the' floor is an outer box or shell I2 of sheet metal, with the usual asbestos or other insulating ma- 35 terial I2. The floor of this outer shell is designated I3, and it has suspended thereunder a smaller box or shell I 4, with an opening inits bottom, designated I4', with a screen covering I5 therefor, as seen in Fig. 1.

An inner shell or hood I6, is suspended from the oor grate` I0, and forms a sort of skirt, spaced inwardly from the outer wall I2, as shown, this space providing passageway for cold air down through the floor grate in the usual manner. The furnace body proper is designated Il, and is of box-like form, open at its bottom and supported through the floor I3,- as clearly indicated in Fig. 1,-' and is provided with a cover I8, with 50 handle I8' for removing the cover. This cover is removed in Fig. 2. From said furnace body I1 are two large pipes or conduits I9 and 20, terminating in a box-like member 2|, having two vertical openings 22, 22, therethrough. and an 55 outlet pipe or conduit 23, extended out through the skirt i6 and the shell I2, as seen in Figs. l and 2. The smoke or fumes from the furnace body I1 can pass through the two conduits I9 and 20, into the box-like member 2|, and out through the pipe 23, without communicating with the Vertical openings 22, 22, said openings being walled conduits for circulation of air therethrough to be heated. v

Within' the furnace body I1 are shown four concentrically positioned drums or shells, designated 24, 25, 26 and 21, each having openings 24', 25', 26" and 21', through its wall. A top plate 28, adapted to the upper ends of said shells is placed thereupon, said plate having annular depressions, as 28', to t between adjacent shells, leaving the raised portions to fit down over two adjacent shells, as is clear from Fig. 1, said top plate also having therein circumferentially extending slots or openings, as 28a, three of which are shown in Fig. 2, above the annular space formed between shells 26 and 21, while the space between shells 24 and 25 is open around the outer edge of the top plate 28, as at 28h. Said drums or shells 24, 25, 26 and 21 are tied together by means of a through bar 29, inserted through suitable openings in shells 25, 26 and 21, with the outer shell 24 placed thereover and secured thereto by means of screws 30, 30. Said bar 29 has depending'therefrom two guide pins 3|, 3|, again referred to. A central sleeve or tubular member 32 is screwed into saidbar at its lower end andat its upper end projects through the top plate 28, with a flange 32' under said top plate, as shown. An upper section 33 is screwed on to the lupper end of said member 32, and fits down on the top plate 28, as shown, and through these tubular members 33 andv 32 is extended a rod 34 having a T-handle 34 on its upper end, and at its lower end said rod is screwed into a central standard member 35, on which is a plate or table member 36, said standard member 35 being anchored at its lower end in a supporting bracket member 31, supported by means of depending brackets, as 38, four of which are shown attached at their upper ends to the furnace body I1. On the top of the top plate, at` one side thereof, is a guide finger 39, again referred to.

From the description thus far made, it will be seen that by removing the `)top I8 of the furnace body, and unscrewing the rod 34, by its handle 34', the entire unit consisting of the concentricv shells 24, 25, 26 and 21, the central members 33 and 32, the through bar` 29 and the depending guide pins 3|, 3|, can be lifted bodily from the furnace body I1, for cleaning, repair or inspection. Between the lower ends of drums or shells 25 and 26, is placed an inverted channel iron member 40, secured to the through bar 29 by means of screws 4I, 4|, as seen in Figs. l, 4 and 6. This member is of annular form and has a series of openings 42 therethrough.

Supported in the table or plate 36, on the upper end of the standard 35, are two fuel pipes, as 43 and 44, with across connecting supply pipe 45, the lower ends of the pipes 43 and 44 being extended downward and closed by means of caps 43' and 44', respectively.

yA fuel trough member 46, ofgeneral annular form, and providing two V-shaped fuel troughs 41, 48, with an annular portion 46' therebetween with openings 42' therethrough, is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and 7. The openings 42' register with the openings 42 in the channel member as will be understood from the showing in Figs. 4 and 5. This fuel trough member 46 is supported on the plate or table 36 by means of spacer members, as 49, held in place by means of screws 50. Mounted in the troughs 41 and 48 are two annular wicks 5I and 52, which set edgewise in the bottoms of said troughs, as shown.

The fuel flows up through the pipes 43 and 44 and into the troughs 41 and 48, and is picked up by the wicks 5| and 52, ready for ignition from above, through the slots 28HL in the top plate in the usual manner. At the places of connection of the two fuel pipes 43 and44 with the bottom of the trough member 46, the adjacent wall portions dip to the level of the bottom of said troughs, as at 46a.

On the plate or table 36, at vthe left hand side thereof, is a guide finger 39', adapted to be in alinement with the guide finger 39 on the top plate 28, to facilitate the adjustment of the removable unit when they are put into place.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the liquid fuel is supplied from any suitable source through a pipe 53, into a floatfcontrolled valve 54, from which the fuel flows through a flexible pipe 55, and thence into a reservoir 56, through the bottom thereof, and through the port 58, which is controlled by means of a needle valve or rod 59, also seen in Fig. 2, which is connected to be operated by the float 66, pivoted at 6I, in bracket 62, in a well known manner. It will be noted that 'the sectional view of these parts shown in Fig. 3 is taken on an irregular sectional line shown on Fig. 2, being the line 3 3, and while the parts are small, this mechanism is all old and forms no part of the invention but is shown to show how the invention is applied thereto.

From the reservoir 56 the liquid fuel is permitted to pass out through a valve mechanism at 63, with outlet port 64, controlled by a valve rod 65 from the floor grate I0. This valve rod 65 is screw threaded in its body 63 and is turned' to fully close the port 58, and the fuel should continue to flow into the reservoir 56 and up around the float 68, it would overflow through a pipe or nipple 68 into a bucket 69 until said bucket was filled suiliciently to overbalance its supporting lever 18, pivotally supported at 1I and 12, as seen in Fig. 2, whereupon said lever 10 is pulled down to the broken-line position, indicated in Fig. 3, the irmer end of said lever 16 being connected with a coiled spring 13, with 'a fulcrum connection at 14, the opposite end of said spring being held by means ,of an adjustable anchorage at 15, whereby Vsaid spring functions as a quick acting booster for said lever 18, after it has been moved downwardly a short` distance, this accelerated movement operating to strike the needle valvelor rod 59, throughr a. sleeve or collar 16 placedV thereon' for that purpose. This is designed to forc said needle valve into the seat and close the port 58 into the reservoir.

The bucket 69 can then be tripped from the floor register by means of a rod 17, provided at its .upper end with a finger loop 18, and a spring la, which is compressed as the bucket descends, pulling the finger loop 18 down into the well or bracket B, as shown in light broken lines in Fig. 3. When the finger loop is thus down in the dotted line position, it indicates that the bucket has been operated by an overow of fuel and has descended as a means for forcing the needle valve [5s closed.

In order to return these parts to their normal position, the operator pulls up on the rod Tl, which tilts thebucket on the hinge joints at 8l and t2, to empty the same, the overflow fuel being dumped into the ground under the floor. As said bucket is raised in the dumping process,

lit strikes the lever 'lll and returns it to its normal position, as shown in full lines in said Fig. 3. The rod 'il is attached to the bucket by means of a hinged member '83, the free portion of which is provided with a slot 84, through which the rod 'il works, with two conning balls or beads 85 l and t6, above and below said member, as shown.

-of the features of applicants invention.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, we will describe the adjusting means for simultaneously adjusting the burner mechanism and the float controlled mechanism for the purpose ofv leveling these mechanisms. The supporting bracket at tl, Figs. 1 and 2, it will-be seen, is attached tothe furnace body by means of supporting brackets tu, 3ft, heretofore referred to, and these brackets are 'provided with angle-portions 81, 81, to which are attached the adjusting rods t8, t8, having screw threaded connection at their upper ends with depending brackets 89, 89. There are three of these adjusting rods, as will be clear from Fig. 2, the side next to the outlet conduits I9 and 20, being bolted to the furnace body, as at 9o, with a slot connection in the bodvsides ll, as at 9U', for original adjustment at the time of installing, the brackets 3B, 38, and the body sides Il, Il l, being sufficiently flexible laterally to permit leveling by turning the rods 8S slightly, as maybe necessary.

The operation of the invention as here shown and described may be briefly described as follows:

Assuming that the float controlled valve 5t is full and the supplythereto has been closed, said fuel then flows by gravity to the reservoir 56, through the opening 58 to raise the float 60 and close the needle valve 59. The operator operates the valve rod 65, by means of its indicating handle Bt.' to admit fuel to the pipes 45, ,4i and M, leading to the burner V-shaped troughs 4l and 48, to feed the wicks for starting purposes. The. operator then turns off the same rod 65, and lights the wicks from-above, through the slots 28 as before described and in the usual manner, the cover It being removed for this purpose.' The burning Aof the wicks develops'sufllcient heat to vapo'rize turns on the valve rod 65 to permit the continued supply of fuel to the burner troughs. and the initial supply of fuel are for the purpose of' priming or starting the burner, in the usual and well known manner. The operation of the burner is now automatically continued. Should the needle valve 59 get stuck, or leakage occur to cause overflow from the reservoir 56, as before described, the overflow will nll the bucket sufficiently, as before described, to cause it to trip and force the valve closed, thus shutting oif the fuel supply. and preventing possible fire or other damage.

Thus applicants have provided certain improvements which make it possible to adjust the burner and fuel control mechanism to keep the necessary level condition for the best results, and have also provided means to indicate when the mechanism has clogged or otherwise is not operating properly. Applicants have also provided a 'structure in which the unit consisting of the annular shells, the through rod 29, and the channel member t0, with the guide rods, can be released and lifted bodily from the fuel trough member to, the lower edges of said ,shells fitting said trough member t6 as clearly indicated in the enlarged views in Figs. 5 and 6. In replacing the removable unit, it is only necessary to turn the mechanism until the guide fingers 39 and 3S' are in vertical alinement, which insures that the guide rods or pins 3l, 3i, will enter their openings in the table plate 36. These improvements make for great convenience and saving of time in installing the furnace, or in cleaning or repairing any of the parts thereof, or for renewing the wicks when needed.

We dornot limit our invention to the showing made, except as we may be limited to what is claimed in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. In a floor furnace, in combination with a floor grate and the enclosing housing therefor, of a furnace body within -said housing, concentrically `spaced shells within said furnace body forming concentric annular spaces therein, means securing said shells together as a unit for bodily reymoval from said furnace body, an annular burner member within said furnace body providing concentric fuel troughs for liquid fuel and adapted to interfit with the lower ends of said shells, means for feeding liquid fuel to said troughs, means for adjusting said burner member for leveling purposes, annular wicks in said fuel troughs, a removable cover for said furnace body, and means for lifting said assembled shells as a unit from said burner member and said furnace body.

2. In a floor furnace, a floor grate, a furnace body suspended thereunder, a plurality of concentrically arranged shells therein providing concentric annular spaces therebetween, said shells having means securing them together as a' unit,

The wicks a burner member of annular form within said ing purposes, and means for automatically feedlng liquid fuel to said burner member, said means being mounted thereon and adjustable therewith.

3. In a oor furnace, in combination, a oor grate, a furnace body suspended thereunder, a burner member of annular form within said furnace body. and having therein concentrically arranged fuel troughs, annular wicks therein, means for automatically supplying liquid fuel to said fuel troughs, said burner member and said fuel feed being adjustable for leveling purposes, means operable from the floor grate for leveling said burner member, a series of concentrically arranged shells within said furnace bod'y upon said `burner member spaced to form annular spaces therebetween, means securing said'shells together in spaced relationship as a unit, said shells intertting at their lower ends with said burner member, means detachably holding said shell unit on said burner member, whereby said shell unit can be bodily removed from said burner, guide means for replacing said shell unit upon said burnerv member, and means for lifting said'shell unit bodily from said furnace body.

4. In a floor furnace of the character shown and described, a plurality of concentrically spaced shells forming annular combustion chambers therebetween with' openings through their walls, a top plate covering said shells with openings therethrough registering with said spaces, means securing said shells together in spaced relationship, said securing means having guide means thereon for replacing said shell assembly as a unit in operating position, and an annular burner member formed to detachably interfit with the lower ends of said shells and having fuel troughs formed therein, a furnace body enclosing said shell unit and said burner member, and means for lifting said shell unit bodily from said furnace body, with means extended through said shell unit for releasably securingit in place on said burner member.

5. In a floor furnace, in combination, a floor grate, a furnace housing thereunder, a burner member in said housing having means to receive liquid fuel' therein, wick means therein, means forming mixing and combustion chambers above said burner member, means for automatically supplying liquid fuel to said burner member, said means including a float controlled valve and reservoir, a movably mounted receptacle, means for directing overflow of liquid fuel from said reservoir to said receptacle, whereby a predetermined amount of overflow fuel in said receptacle moves said receptacle and forces said float controlled valve closed, means for emptying said overflow receptacle, and at theoor grate means for indicating that the overflow receptacle has been moved.

6. In a floor furnace, in combination, a floor grate, a furnace housing thereunder, a burnerv 7. In combination, a floor grate, a furnace, a'.

burner member adapted to receive and hold liquid fuel, a reservoir for fuel with float con'- trolled valve for controlling the inflow of fuel to said reservoir, valve means for controlling flow of fuel to said burner, a receptacle to receive overflow fuel from said reservoir, said receptacle being movably mounted, means operable by the movement of said receptacle for closing said float controlled valve, means visible at said grate f for indicating when said receptacle has moved, said last means being operable manually for emptying said receptacle and returning said receptacle to its normal position.

8. In combination with a furnace having a burner member adapted to hold liquid fuel, a reservoir for supplying fuel thereto, a float controlled valve for controlling the inflow of fuel to isaid reservoir, a manually operable valve for controlling flow of fuel from said reservoir to said burner, a movably supported receptacle positiond to receive overflow fuel from said reservoir when the control valve sticks, means whereby the movement of said receptacle closes said valve an'd cuts of said fuel supply, and means visible and operable from above for emptying said receptacle and returning it to its normal position, said last means indicating that said receptacle has been moved.

HORACE J. SNHTH.- HUGO F. BEICHEL. ARNOLD D. SMITH. CLYDE C. POTTER. 

